7.3. Evolutionary Factors: e = m∙i
P. Lherminier [
31] has put forth the interesting idea that "each species is a unique solution to the equation that balances energy/matter expenditures with the gain of information (i)." In
Figure 3, the position of each species is any point on the diagonal and indicates that the value of semantic information (i) increases simultaneously with the energy used as mass converted into energy (e) but decreases the mass of unconverted matter (m). This means that information (i) and mass converted into energy (e), which is the expenditure or use of energy, increase in parallel, but matter as unconverted mass (m) decreases.
On the other hand, with the increase in self-organizing selection processes (so) or the increase in the number of modules, the mass of unconverted matter decreases.
Comments of this nature are evident from the graphical representation of the modular evolution model. What needs to be emphasized in this model is the fact that the factors or forces that enable evolution must be sought in the energy-matter and information relationships. This is also illustrated by the equation e = m∙i.
Of course, this fact does not dismiss the idea that natural selection, mutations, migrations, and genetic drift are factors in evolution. However, it should be emphasized that these factors change the genetic composition of the population, leading to microevolutionary processes, but this is not a sure proof that these changes are automatically responsible for macroevolutionary processes such as the formation of species.
The proposed model is an attempt to show that the formation of species is linked to the transformations of matter/energy under the pressure of semantic information arising from the decision-making functions of modules as intelligent agents.
From here, it follows that the so-called functional information law [
47] applies only to living systems. E. Zuckerkandl and L. Pauling [
48] were the first to note that genetic distances between taxons can be converted into absolute geological time. In the evolution model, absolute geological time is represented by the arrow of time that runs parallel to the increase in information.
Let's assume that the population of a hypothetical species, for its parameter values, has the position x on the arrow of time (
Figure 4). This position corresponds to the concept that each species is a field of recombination of a group of individuals where only the connections between the groups create a stable relationship between energy/matter expenses and information gain [
31]. By drawing a perpendicular line from point x to the four sides of the square, similar triangles xAB and XA'B' are obtained.
Based on the similarity of the triangles xAB and xA'B', we can write:
We acknowledge that the ip/if ratio, which represents the amount of information before the population of type x is formed (ip) compared to the amount of information after the formation of population x until today (if), remains constant. This constant characterizes populations of type x and has an i value. Such a constant exists for every other type of living world.
As a result, we can write:
The similarity of the equation e = m∙i with the famous formula E=mc2 is evident but is this similarity essential or just an intellectual game (!?) The problem is to be discussed. However, let's continue with our idea. We can replace the ratio ip/if with the ratio t0/t1 because the diagonal also represents time in years. Thus, t0 represents the time elapsed from the birth of population x, and t1 represents the time elapsed from the birth of population x to the present. Let's assume that life originated approximately four billion years ago, and the first fossil of a living organism belongs to an age of 3.8 billion years, meaning t0 = 200,000,000 and t1 = 3,800,000,000.
From this data, we can calculate the value of coefficient
i because:
We calculate the coefficient i for humans, where t1 = 200,000 years (the time when modern humans appeared) and t0 = 4,000,000,000 - 200,000 = 3,999,800,000 is the time before the appearance of humans.
Therefore: t0/t1 = 3,999,800,000 / 200,000 = i = 19,999 or 20,000.
The replacement of the coefficient i specifically for the first living fossils (i = 0.05) and for humans (i = 19,999) in the formula e = m∙i shows that for the same mass (m), humans possess an energy quantity many times larger. In other words, throughout evolution, more and more work are accomplished with a smaller mass because evolution is the process of energizing the mass of living systems through the increase in the number of modules or modularization of mass, as well as the increase in semantic, functional, or modular information.
On the other hand, almost a century ago, L. Lapicque [
49] found that for the excitation of invertebrate muscles like Aplysia, 703 ergs are needed, while for vertebrates like
Rana esculenta, 518 ergs are required. From this, A.T. Pol [
50] concluded that during evolution, the quality of information increases as a force of interaction and reorganization of matter, and energy use is minimized. This means that more evolved organisms use less energy for the same work, but their use is more efficient.
Regardless of the incorrect concept of predatory information, according to which living systems "seize" information from the outside and not that information is a property of the matter they are composed of, P. Lherminier [
31] has given an interesting idea when he writes that "each species is a unique solution to the equation that balances material/energy expenditures with information gain." The formula e = m∙i is the equation that shows how matter/energy expenditures are balanced with information gain in every world living species. As a result, the author's thought supports the modular evolution model and vice versa. However, we emphasize once again that individuals within a species should not be labeled as predators and victims, as P. Lherminier [
31] writes, because, above all, interaction occurs between them based on the information they possess.
Another interesting connection worth discussing is the relationship of inheritance or heritability, as described earlier as an evolution factor. The heritability coefficient (h) reduction is explained by the increased number of neural modules and their role in higher organisms. Furthermore, the presence and role of these modules also explain the low level of selective pressure (sn).
The equation e = m∙i reflects the connections between evolution factors over time from the emergence of life, during which interactions based primarily on information have occurred and continue. In contrast, the equation E = m.c2 explains the energy/matter equivalence since the time of the Big Bang when interactions were mainly based on force.
The fact that during the formation of a helium atom from four hydrogen atoms, 0.774% of the mass of the hydrogen atoms is lost suggests that the electromagnetic origin of mass might not cause this loss. Like biological and chemical evolution, energy growth is balanced by a mass reduction through the interaction of information, which acts as a complementary component of this process (
Figure 4). From this, it can be accepted that the peaks of chemical and biological evolution are heavy elements like uranium and higher animals, with humans at the forefront, possessing a very high energy potential.
The inventory of nature and everything humans create is formed over time due to the interaction of matter, energy, and information. This is why these universal parameters are considered the basic factors of chemical evolution, the origin of life, biological evolution, and socio-cultural and linguistic evolution. From the interaction between these three parameters, three other factors of evolution emerged simultaneously: self-organization, natural selection, and heredity. The modular evolution model helps us explain simultaneously the interconnections over time of all evolutionary factors.
It's worth noting that the Book of Life is not just the DNA molecule but also all the different types of information interactions with the corresponding modules mentioned above. Thus, the difference between chimpanzees and modern humans should not be sought in their DNA sequences but in the fact that humans are an energetic paradox [
51]. This is why we consider evolution a process of modularization and energization of living systems through the interaction of information. In simpler terms, evolution is the acquisition and growth of information from which, over time, more numerous and complex modules are formed. Such evolution is modular evolution.
The idea that embryonic development is not solely governed by the genetic community is correct, but it does not mean that their absence is compensated for by spatial-temporal conditions [
52]. Below, it will be shown that modularity and self-organization in living organisms are consequences of information. In a recent study [
53], the issue of purpose in living organisms is discussed. According to these authors, directed purpose depends on persistence, meaning the continuous presence over time of a function or an adaptation, as well as plasticity, which, in our opinion, also involves persistence.
Their formula for calculating persistence (P) is:
G represents the number of successful moves; N represents the total number of moves, and R represents a successful move that could also occur by chance. The value derived from this formula is almost the same as that used to measure the amount of semantic (Is) modular or functional information: Is= log2 pi ) p1, and Is= 1+ (1-log2 pi) This fact supports the idea that persistence, dependent on the directed purpose of living organisms, is the value of semantic information. It can also be said that the birth of semantic information as the interaction of a module with the environment or other modules is the birth of a directed purpose.
From this, it follows that the birth of a purpose from a modular function occurs in every module of living organisms because all types of modules are valid for survival and reproduction. Hence, we should dismiss the notion that biologists sin when accepting function and meaningful information in every module.